Most people would take for granted that our attitudes, or our positive and/or negative evaluations in reaction to a person, object, or idea (Petty & Chaiken, 2004), are directly related to our behaviors. LaPiere (1934) discovered that this is not necessarily the case. Many factors influence whether our behaviors follow our attitudes (Glasman & Albarracin, 2006). One of these factors is the strength of the attitude, and one of the factors that contributes to the strength of the attitude about something is the amount of information we have about it (Davidson et al., 1985).
This concept is true for me in political elections in two ways. First, when I was little, and I didn't know very much about elections, government, or current presidents (I say current because every self-respecting little kid knows oodles about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln). My attitude about elections was not very strong partly because I didn't know anything about the candidates running at the national level much less lower levels. If I had known more about candidates running for office, my attitude would be stronger which would cause a change in my behavior such as asking my parents to vote for a certain candidate.
Second, with my first presidential election in which I can vote coming up, I didn't know much until recently. Because I didn't have much information, my attitudes were not very strong, and I committed the crime of not voting in the primary (awful, I know). If I had known more, I would have had stronger attitudes, and been more likely to vote. Now that I do know a good bit about the candidates, I'm am surely going to vote in the general election coming up.
Glasman, L. R., & Albarracin, D. (2006). Forming attitudes that predict future behavior: A meta-analysis of the attitude-behavior relation. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 778-822.
LaPiere, R. T. (1934). Attitudes vs. action. Social Forces, 13, 230-237.
Petty, R. E., & Chaiken, S. (Eds.). (2004). Key readings in attitudes and persuasion. London: Taylor & Francis.
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2 comments:
The concept about attitudes that you illustrated with your experience and attitudes about the presidential elections is also true for me. I did not vote in the primary either and really didn't feel the need to because I felt like I had no information. Like you, I have started doing more research and learning more about the candidates. I feel that my now stronger attitudes have influenced my behavior because I will definitely vote!
I think a lot of people in their late teens and early twenties have the same attitudes about elections as you do. Growing up, my parents always told me to vote democrat, but never explained what this meant. My high school boyfriend was a staunch republican and forced me to watch and read news, and collect information about local politicians etc. I began to form my own opinion based on all of the political knowledge I had collected. With the upcoming presidential election, I already know which issues matter to me and which parties advocate the issues I believe in. I finally feel that I will be able to make an important and informed vote!
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